Actuating mechanism for expanding an inflatable article



July 12, 1960 A. J. FRUENDT 2,944,263

ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR EXPANDING AN INFLATABLE ARTICLE Filed April ze,195e Ffa. 1

INVENTOR, ADEL J- FRuENoT AGENT .QCTUATI'NG Fon EXPANDING I Theinvention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for theGovernment of the United States nit-ed States Patent l actuatingmechanism, embodying the invention, is indiof America for governmentalpurposes with'outrthe pay- .A

ment of any royalties thereonor therefor.

The present invention relates to actuating mechanisms and moreparticularly to explosion operated `actuator mechanisms especiallyadapted for use with sea markers of the flotation type.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved explosion operated actuating mechamsm.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedexplosion operated actuating mechanism in combination with a valve.

Another object of the invention is the provision Aof an actuatingmechanism, referred to in the preceding object, having thecharacteristics of being of simple construction, of having aminimumnumber of parts, and o'f being easily operated. i i Y A still further`object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedexplosion operated actuating mechanism especially adapted to open an endclosure cap or valve in a compressed Huid container, such as a carbondioxide capsule. i

' still further :object ofthe invention is the provision of a compactexplosion actuated linear actuating mechanism comprising an electricallytriggered explosive charge, aprimary driver piston fwhichopens 4valvemeans, and

cated generally by the reference numeral 10. The mechanism 10 isembodied in a otation bladder assembly unit comprising a flotationbladder device 11 packed in a cylindrical casing 12 and adapted to beejected and in ilated with a buoyant pressure fluid, such as carbondioxide, from a capsule 13 via Vthe mechanism 10V and a Vtubular conduit14 coupled to the mechanism 10 andthe casing 12. A rubber cap 15encloses an outer end of thel casing 12. Details of the structure andoperation of the bladder device 11 is shown and described in applicantscopending patent application Serial No. 809,579 for Flotation BladderAssembly Unit, filed April 28, 1959, in the U.S. Patent Oice. Thereference numeral 16 indicates generally a housing or container for theabove described assembly.

More particularly, the mechanism 10 comprises a generally cylindricalhousing 20 having a relatively large coaxial cylindrical bo're opening21 in one end and a smaller cylindrical opening 22 having a parallel,eccentric axis in an opposite end. The opening 21 communicates with aconcentric cylindrical bore 23. A small cylindrical guide passage 24connects the openings 23 and 22 and is coaxial with the opening 22. Arelatively large cylindrical primary driver piston 25 is slidablydisposed in the opening 21 and is adapted to drive a juxtaposed coaxialsmaller secondary shuttle pisto'n 26,-slidably disposed in the bore 23,against valve opening means 27, slidably guided in the guide passage 24,by igniting an explosive charge 28. The explosive charge is in the formofa cylindrical squib.

means for limitingthe forward movement o'f the piston and locking thepiston in place for lassuring that the valve menas will be held open. i

Yet `another object of the invention is the provision of a compactexplosionactuated linear actuating mechanism, as set forth in thepreceding object, which mechanismhas a portion functioning as a valvingapparatus for metering the passage of pressure uid therepast.

The invention further resides in certain novel features of construction,combinations andarrangements of parts, and further objects andadvantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe artto which it pertains from the following description of the presentpreferred embodiment thereof described with reference to theaccompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, andwherein the same reference characters represent corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and in which: Y .Y Fig.4 l is a plan viewof a device embo'dying a preferred -form of the invention, a portion ofthe device being broken away and in section for showing details thereof;and t v Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. l, the portionbeing partially inV sectio'n for illustrating certain details thereof. Ai Y It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to thejdetails .of construction and arrangement of parts shown inthe drawingand hereinafter described in detail,

Put is Sarabia-abres Otherwise embalisd andvfbins The valve openingmeans 27 is adapted to unseat a conventional closure cap or valve in thenecked end of the capsule 13, the necked end being threaded'into andsealed with a packing ring 29 in a counterbore 30fin the opening 22. Itis to be understood that the valve opening means 27 canbe a puncture pinfor puncturing closure caps in capsules which must be punctured to. beopened. l

The squibVV 28, which is partially carried by and eneloseduin an outerend of the driver piston 25, is secured in placejand enclosed by meansof a coaxial hollow stud duct 35 in the endof the container 16 adjacentthe bat.

Small tery 33 permits the entrance of the salt water. drill holes 36permit the egress of any trapped fluid, such as atmospheric air. Y

Ignition of thesquib 28 causesthe instantaneous generation of burnedgases which expand Within a generally cylindrical combustion chamber 40and against a coaxial conical pent head portion 41 for driving theprimary piston 25 to the right. An annular shoulder or end portion 42ofthe bore opening 21 serves asta stop for limiting the travel of thepiston 25. The portion 42 terminates in an annular lletof arcuatesection at the junction thereof with the wall of the opening 211 for thepurpose of relieving the concentration of stresses.

An arrangement for exhausting the burned `gases as wellY as limiting thetravel of the piston 25 and reducing It is to be furthe impact thereofagainst the stop 42, comprises an ex haust port or vent hole 43connecting the opening 21 with the exterior of the housing 29. Thecombustion chamber 40' communicates `with the vent 4S by means of a-nannular groove 45 of rectangular cross section in the periphery of thepiston 25 'and two I.communicating exhaust ducts 46. Each of the `ducts46 is obliquely outwardly extending and has .one end 'terminating in theconical wall `portion 41 in juxtaposition with the .cylindrical wallportion .of the combusiton chamber 4t). The other or outer ends of theducts .46 terminate in a transverse .side wall portion kof the groove45. As many ducts 45 may be provided as :are necessary lalthough `onlyare shown v180" apart.

As the piston 25 abuts against the stop 42, .a :cylindrical lock pin 48,'which is slidably guided in a similarlyshaped transverse opening in thewall of the housing 20, is urged into locking position in an annularlock receiving groove 49 formed in the piston 2S. A leaf spring 5),secured with a screw 5l Ito the outside of the housing 20, biases thelock 48 into place. The groove 49 also functions to reduce the slidingfriction between the piston 25 andthe wall of the opening 21. v

The secondary or shuttle piston 26 has a vcylindrical body portion witha driver head 52 on its right hand end, Fig. 2. The head 52 4is adaptedto engage an adjacent coaxial anvil portion 53 of the valve openingmeans 27 under the impact of the driver piston 25 at the larger butt endof the secondary piston 26. Preferably', a peripheral groove is formedinthe larger body portion of the piston 26 for the purpose of retaininga rubber O-ring type of seal 54. The seal 54 helps to prevent thetransgression of pressure fluids therepast in either direction.

The valve opening means 27 has an annular shoulder portion S6 whichserves as a poppet type of closure valve, Fig. 2, and seats upon acircular coaxial valve seat 57 embossed in the bottom of the opening 22and formed as a part of the housing 2i). The anvil portion S3 of thevalve opening means 27 is cylindrical and terminates in a frusto-conicalbutt-end anvil portion.

The cylindrical anvil portion -53 of the valve opening means 27 is veryloosely slidably guided in the correspondingly shaped passage 24, therebeing sufficient axial spacing between the anvil portion 53 of thervalveopening means '27 and the head 52 'of the secondary piston 27, or thepiston 25 and the shuttle 26, to permit the proper seating of the valveportion 56 of the valve opening means 27 upon the valve seat 57.

The travel of the shuttle or secondary piston'Z against the valveopening means 27 is suflicient to cause an axially projectingcylindrical shaft portion ed of the' means 27 'to unseat the closurevalve of the capsule 13, and unseat the valve 53. The unseating of thevalve 53 permits pressure fluid to flow from the capsule 13 into thepassage 24, through a latetial passage means 61 and the duct i4 into thecasing 12 for ejecting and inflating the bladder 11.

Preferably, the passage means 61 terminates in a cylindrical embossment62 capable of `having the duet 14 coupled thereto `in a conventionalmanner. The other end -of the duct 14 is also coupled 'to the casing 12in a suitable manner. Packing rings v63 are provided in the couplings tohermetically seal the same. Also, 'it is preferred that the lateralpassage means 61 terminate in a counterbore 64. v

It is the intention to hereby cover 'not only the preferred constructionshown and described lherein, but to also cover all adaptions,modifications, and uses thereof which come within the practice of thoseskilled in the art to which the invention relates and the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

l` In an explosion-operated actuating mechanism, housing means, a first,second, third, and Vfourth, cylindrical-opening Aformed in said-housing,rst piston means 4 slidably disposed in said first cylindrical opening,Second piston means slidably disposed in said second cylindricalopening, third piston means loosely and slidably disposed in said thirdcylindrical opening, said rst piston means being adapted to beexplosively actuated towards said second piston means and driving saidsecond piston means against yand axially displacing said third pistonmeans, means for limiting the travel of said first piston means, meansfor venting the burned gases from said irst cylindrical opening as saidrst piston means `approaches the end of its travel, .sealing meansdisposed about Asaid second piston means for preventing thetransgression of pressure fluid therepast, valve seat means at the mouthof said third cylindrical opening and projecting into said fourthcylindrical opening, said third piston means having annular valve meansadapted to seat upon said valve seat means and partition said lthird andfourth cylindrical openings, lateral duct means communicating with saidthird cylindrical opening means between said sealing means and saidvalve seat means, said fourth cylindrical opening being adapted to havea pressure fluid capsule secured therein in such a manner that the axialdisplacement of said third piston means causes the unseating of saidvalve means and the release -of pressure fluid from the capsule intosaid lateral duct means via said fourth and third cylindrical openings,respectively.

2, In an explosion-operated actuating mechanism, housing means, a rst,second, third, and fourth cylindrical opening formed in said housing,first piston means slidably disposed in said rst cylindrical opening,second piston means slidably disposed in said second cylindricalopening, third piston means loosely and slidably disposed in 'said thirdcylindrical opening, said first and second cylindrical openings beingcoaxial and communicating with each other, said third and fourthcylindrical openings being coaxial with each other and eccentric ytosaid first and second cylindrical openings, said first piston meansbeing adapted to be explosively actuated towards said second pistonmeans and driving said second'piston means against and axiallydisplacing said third 'piston means, means for stopping and limiting thetravel of said first piston means, means `for locking said first pistonmeans in place after said stop means has stopped the same, means forventing vburned gases from said `iirst cylindrical opening after saidfirst piston means has been stopped by said stop means, sealing meansdisposed about said second piston means for preventing the transgressionof pressure iluid therepast, embossed annular valve seat means formed atthe mouth of said third cylindrical opening and projecting into saidfourth cylindrical opening, said third piston means being enlarged at amidportion thereof and having annular valve means adapted to seat uponsaid valve seat means and partition said third ,and fourth cylindricalopenings, lateral duct means communieating with said third cylindricalopening means at a vpoint between said sealing means and said valve seatmeans, said fourth cylindrical opening being adapted to have a pressurefluid capsule .secured therein in such a manner that the axialdisplacement of said third piston means causes the unseating of saidvalve means and the release of pressure fluid from `the capsule intosaid laterad duct I means via said fourth and third cylindricalopenings,

about said second piston means for preventing the transgression ofpressure liuid therepast, saidfourth cylindrical opening in said housingmeans communicating with said third cylindrical opening, said housingmeans having valve seat means formed therein about one end of said thirdcylindrical opening and protruding into said fourth cylindrical opening,said third piston means being adapted to seat against said seat meansand prevent the transgression of luid from said fourth cylindricalopening into said third cylindrical opening before said rst piston meansisexplosively actuated, lateral duct means communicating with said thirdcylindrical opening between said sealing means and said valve seatmeans, said fourth piston means, meansfor ventingthe burned gases from Isaid first cylindrical opening, sealing means disposed cylindricalopening being adapted to have a pressure iiuid t capsule secured thereinin such a manner that the axial displacement of said third piston meanscauses thegrelease ofpressure iiuid from the capsule into said lateralduct means via said fourth and third cylindrical openings,

-, respectively.

4. In `an explosiomoperated actuating mechanism,

means loosely and slidably disposed in said Vsecond cylindrical opening,said second andthird cylindrical openings being coaxial with each otherand eccentric to said first cylindrical opening, said first piston meansbeing adapted to be explosively actuated towards and axially displacesaid second piston means, means for limiting the travel of said lirstand second piston means, sealing lmeans disposed about said lirst pistonmeans for preventing the transgression of pressurejuid therepast, valveseat means formedv at the mouth of said second cylindrical opening andprojecting into saidthird cylindrical opening, said second piston meansbeing enlarged at a midportion thereof and having annular valve meansadapted to seat upon said valve seat means and partition said second andthird cylindrical openings, lateral duct means communicating with saidsecond cylindrical opening means between 5. In a device ofthe characterdescribed having an inatable iiotation bladder, a buoyant fluid capsule,an explosive charge, and electrical means for ring the explosive charge,the improvement comprising'in combination, housing means, a iirst,second, third and fourth i Vtiring of the explosive charge and drivingsaid second piston means against and axially displacing said thirdpiston means, means for limiting the travel of said first piston means,means for venting the b urned gases from said 4iirst cylindricalopening, sealing means disposedV t about said second piston'means forpreventing the trans` f gression of pressure uid therepast, said fourthcylindrical opening in said housing means being larger than saidthirdrcylindrical openingY and communicating with said third cylindricalopening, valve seat means formed at said sealing means and said valveseat means, said third cylindrical opening being adapted to have apressure fluid capsule secured therein in such a manner that the axialdisplacement ofsaid second piston means causes the unseating of saidvalve means -and the release of pressure uid from the capsule into saidlateral duct means via said third and second cylindrical openings,respectively.

the mouth of said third cylindrical opening and projecting into saidfourth cylindrical opening, saidV third piston means being enlarged at amidportion thereof and having annular valve means adapted to seat uponsaidl valve seat means and partition said third and fourth cylindricalopenings, lateral duct means communicating with the bladder and saidthird cylindrical opening means between said sealing means and saidvalve seat means, said fourth cylindrical opening having the capsulesecured therein in such a manner that the axial displacement of saidthird'piston means causes the unseating of said valve means and therelease of pressure iluid from the capsule into said lateral duct meansvia said fourth and third cylindrical openings, respectively, foriniiating said bladder.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATESl PATENTS2,422,853 Reising June 24, 1947 2,515,068 Young July 1l, 1950 2,780,389Sandgren Feb. 5, 1957 2,840,833 Freundt July l, 1958

